Perhaps you’re familiar with the classic Hollywood romance “Love and Basketball,” directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Though this news story may echo some themes, it is not a screenplay but a real-life initiative executively produced by the NBA itself, which we aptly titled “Tech and Basketball.”
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has been significantly involved in Africa since opening its African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010. More recently, NBA Africa was launched in 2021 to manage the league’s initiatives on the continent, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), now in its fourth season, alongside player development, content distribution, infrastructure projects, and social responsibility initiatives. Their ambitious goal is to elevate basketball to the dominant sport in Africa over the next decade, challenging football’s current supremacy.
In addition to these efforts, NBA Africa is now looking to nurture the business side of sports by investing in early-stage African tech startups through its new accelerator program, “Triple Double,” managed by ALX Ventures. The program is designed to foster innovation in areas such as event management and ticketing, youth development, AI, and digital marketing. Applications are open until May 31.
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi expressed excitement about the initiative: “We are thrilled to launch an accelerator program based here on the continent, which is focused on empowering early-stage African startups. This new initiative is a testament to our commitment to expanding the African sports ecosystem, and these pioneering companies will play a crucial role in shaping the future of sport across Africa.”
The program will select 10 startups for its inaugural cohort, offering them mentorship from NBA Africa, ALX Ventures, and other industry experts. These finalists will refine their product development, business growth, and go-to-market strategies under seasoned guidance.
A highlight of the program will be a Demo Day in New York City, scheduled to align with the United Nations General Assembly in September, where finalists will pitch to a panel of top industry leaders. The top four startups will not only receive financial backing ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 but will also earn opportunities for future collaboration with NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on projects across the continent.
Eligible startups must be headquartered in Africa and operate within one of the specified Sports and Creative startup categories. To qualify, they should demonstrate substantial customer demand or revenue generation and show how their product or service can positively impact the broader African continent.
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